The Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration (DTA) begins
mailing 352,234 real estate assessment notices to County taxpayers
today. The notices will be sent to all property owners of taxable
parcels in the County. Of the 352,234 taxable parcels in the County,
276,121 had some value change. The remaining taxable parcels have no
change in their 2013 real estate assessment.

The assessed value of properties may change for a variety of reasons.
Among these are appreciation and value declines (i.e., equalization
changes); and, structural changes (additions, remodeling), rezonings,
and land divisions (i.e., growth). A combination of these factors can
apply to the same property.

Approximately 71% of residential properties experienced an assessment
increase and another 21% had no change for 2013. The overall
equalization change for residential properties is 3.50%. Commercial
properties show an overall equalization increase of .14%. The slight
commercial increase is primarily the result of value increases in
multi-family apartments of 4.90%, while office elevator properties
decreased 2.41%, and a decrease of 1.72% for other office properties
due to lower rents and higher vacancy. The percentage of the real
estate assessment base attributable to commercial and industrial
property in FY 2014 is 19.96% (in addition, multi-family rental
apartments contribute another 5.62% of the county’s real estate tax
base).

Overall, of the 276,121 properties that have a 2013 assessment change,
5,234 are due to growth (i.e., new construction, rezoning, etc.), and
270,887 properties changed due to equalization. The allocation of land
value to total property value remained relatively constant in 2013.

Main Book Assessments of taxable real estate in Fairfax County for
2013 total approximately $207.1 billion. This is an increase of
approximately $6.81 billion, or 3.40% from the 2012 assessment base,
and is made up of the following components:

Equalization

Growth

Total

Residential Properties

$ 5.19 B
3.50%

$ 0.62 B0.42 %

$ 5.81 B 3.92%

Non-Residential Properties

$ 0.07 B
0.14%

$ 0.93 B 1.79 %

$ 1.00 B 1.93%

Total

$ 5.26 B
2.63%

$ 1.55 B0.77 %

$ 6.81 B 3.40%

It is important to note that these percentages represent the
cumulative amount to the overall tax base and are not necessarily
indicative of specific change to any particular, individual properties.
Individual assessment changes may vary considerably. For residential
property, for example, a key factor in determining the need to change
is the relationship of assessments to the selling prices within
neighborhoods.

Based on equalization changes, the mean assessed value (i.e., on
average, countywide) of most single family-detached homes for 2013 is
$550,609, up 3.13%. This group of properties makes up approximately 73%
of the residential equalization property value in the county.

Additionally, based on equalization changes, townhouse/duplex
properties have a 2013 countywide assessment average of $337,817, an
increase from 2012 of approximately 4.50%; and, the mean assessed value
for condominiums is up 5.42% to $222,722.

As noted in the FY 2014 Advertised Budget Plan, the mean assessed
value for 2013 of all improved residential property is approximately
$465,713. For added reference, the attached map shows varying
pockets of equalization for residential property (vacant land as well
as improved properties) throughout the county. Again, averages are
not necessarily indicative of individual properties and
neighborhoods.

Inquiries concerning any assessment should be directed to the
Department of Tax Administration (DTA) at 703-222-8234; or,
citizens may contact the Tax Department through DTA's homepage: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta. Citizens can obtain a
list of residential sales within each assessment neighborhood from the
DTA website. This is a continuing customer service initiative intended
to help citizens review their assessment for 2013. Citizens are
encouraged to call DTA at 703-222-8234 to discuss their assessment
questions with appraisal staff.

Property owners are encouraged to review their assessment notice upon
receipt. Administrative appeals can be filed with DTA if citizens
believe their assessment is not equitable in comparison with similar
properties or if they believe their assessment exceeds fair market
value. Appeals may be made in writing to the Real Estate Division of
DTA. Citizens may appeal their residential assessment online
through DTA’s homepage,
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/real-estate-assessments.htm.
Appeal applications can also still be obtained by calling DTA; or, can
be downloaded directly from DTA’s homepage. DTA requests that
appeal applications be filed by April 5, 2013.

Real Estate appeals can also be filed with the Board of Equalization
(BOE). Under State law, the BOE is separate from the DTA and
consists of nine taxpayers appointed by the Board of
Supervisors. The BOE conducts formal hearings and takes sworn
testimony. By law, all appeals to the BOE must be filed and
postmarked by June 3, 2013. BOE appeal forms are also
available on the BOE website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/boe/
, or by calling the BOE office at 703-324-4891.

Property owners are encouraged to contact DTA concerning assessment
disputes; however, property owners may appeal directly to the BOE or to
the Circuit Court of Fairfax County.